Cabinet arrangement for dispensing paper towels



Mitch 3, 19 70 R. BQMoT'r EfAl. 3,498,688 CABINET ARRANGEMENT FORnxsrnusiue fAPERJ'I'OWELS med um 27, 1968 2 Shqets-Sheet 1 Kala/1fleacfi Aloft, Jr. fla/p/z Bear/2 Muff, JP. 7/20/2704 P. long Faber! A.Wood:

INVENTORJ I BY all Hun & Mdhnl ATTORNEYS March 3, 1970 Q M i-f E'I'AL3,498,688

CABINET ARRANGEMENT FOR DISPENSING PAPER 'I'OWELS Filed May 27. 1968 2Sheets-She a z 5/ m Jefl 30 fiiiiiiiii' a 40 INVENTORJ' 9 3 a'y I B Y 6/T M da wallow Mmkm w 3.9 (ITTORNE YS Patented Mar. 3, 1970 3,498,688CABINET ARRANGEMENT FOR DISPENSING PAPER TOWELS Ralph B. Mott, Ralph B.Mott, Jr., Thomas P. Long, and Robert L. Woods, Houston, Tex.; said Longand said Woods assignors to Reserv-A-Roll C0,, a partnership composed ofRalph Beach Mott, Sr., and Ralph Beach Mott, Jr.

Filed May 27, 1968, Ser. No. 732,462 Int. 'Cl. B65h 1/04; B65f 1/06 US.Cl. 312-61 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to a towel or tissue dispenserarrangement for a cabinet which enables the towels or tissues to bedispensed one at a time and which includes means for urging the towelsto a position so that they may be removed from the housing and alsoincludes an arrangement so that when an additional supply of towels ortissues is positioned within the housing, the urging means isautomatically relieved of its function.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Various devices have been proposed fordispensing towels or tissues such as represented by the patents to A. S.Krueger et al., No. 2,682,441 issued on June 29, 1954; the patent to A.B. Campbell, Jr., No. 2,781,151 issued on Feb. 12, 1957, and the patentto Chaplin, No. 2,831,602 issued on Apr. 22, 1958.

While these devices illustrate an arrangement for urging the towels to aposition where they may be dispensed from an opening in a housing orcontainer, none of such references include an arrangement so that theurging means is automatically released when the housing or container isopen for reloading of paper towels. In addition to the foregoing, thehousings are not constructed so that while completely enclosing thetowels or tissues to protect them, they may be readily and easilymounted on a door of a cabinet for disposal of the tissues through anopening in the door.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a cabinetarrangement for dispensing paper towels including a door pivotallymounted on the cabinet whereby access may be gained to the interiorthereof for storing a supply of towels, and a housing or containeradapted to be secured adjacent an opening on the door for dispensingtowels or tissues, one at a time, therefrom through the door opening.The housing or container is constructed and arranged so that access maybe readily had thereto by opening the door of the cabinet and by openingthe back of the housing or container which automatically deactivates aspring loaded mechanism so that it moves to a retracted position withinthe container or housing whereby a fresh supply of towels or tissues maybe inserted in the housing and the back closed so that the spring loadedmechanism thereupon moves to a position to urge the towels in the hous-'ing to a position so that they may be readily dispensed therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective viewillustrating a cabinet arrangement with a door pivotally mounted thereonand the present invention supported on the door;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the housing of the presentinvention which is adapted to be positioned on the pivotally mountedcabinet door adjacent an opening therein and for carrying the towels ortissues therein;

FIG. 3 is an end view on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 to illustrate therelationship of the components of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of FIG. 2 to furtherillustrate additional structural details of the housing and therelationship of the various portions thereof; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view showing a portion of thefollower plate arrangement to urge the towels or tissues toward theposition fordispensing from the housing and its manner of support on thehousing.

Description of the preferred embodiment Attention is first directed toFIG. 1 of the drawings wherein a cabinet is represented generally by theletter C. The cabinet may be of any suitable type and shape, and asshown, may include a lavatory and a roll tissue dispenser 11 on one endthereof. Access to the interior of the cabinet C may be provided bymeans of the door 12 which is supported adjacent an opening 21 in thecabinet by any suitable pivot means, such as hinges or the like (notshown) As illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, it will be noted thatthe door 12 is shown as being pivotally mounted along one edge 13thereof; however, in some circumstances it may be desirable to pivot thedoor 12 along the bottom edge 14 or the edge 15 opposite the edge 13.

The door 12 provides a means for access to the interior of the cabinetC, which interior may serve as a supply storage for the towels ortissues to be dispensed from the housing represented generally by thenumeral 18. The housing 18 is secured to the inside surface 19 of thedoor 12.

If desired, a lock 20 may be positioned in the door 12 so that access tothe interior of the cabinet C may be controlled.

The housing 18 is mounted on the door 12, and access to the interior ofthe housing 18 is attained by reason of the opening 21 provided in thedoor 12.

The housing 18 includes side walls 25 and 26 (FIGS. 3 and 4) whichextend rearwardly into the cabinet C when the housing 18 is mounted onthe door 12 and the door closed. Each of the side walls 25 and 26extends rearwardly from the door surface 19 in a plane perpendicular tosuch surface, and are spaced from-each other a suitable distance toaccommodate the size towels or tissues to be carried within the housing18.

The side walls 25 and 26 are each provided with a vertically extendingslot 28 which extends from the lower end of each side wall 25 and 26 andterminates at a position indicated by the numeral 29 which is spacedfrom the upper end 30 of each side wall. As illustrated in FIG. 3 of thedrawings, the slot 23 in side walls 25 and 26 is rectangular inconfiguration throughout its extent.

A nonmovable plate 31 is mounted by any suitable means between the sidewalls 25 and 26 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 4), said plate having a central slot 32therein which extends substantially the length of the plate 31. Theplate 31 is secured to and extends horizontally between the side walls25 and 26 so that the central slot 32 therein is positionedsubstantially at the termination 29 of the slots 28 in the side walls 25and 26.

If desired, the plate 31 may be formed so that it is generally concavethroughout its longitudinal extent to provide edge portions 31a and 31bwhich extend longitudinally of the plate 31 and are inclined or slopeupwardly towards the central portion of the plate in which the slot 32is formed. Also, the innermost edges 31c and 31d of the inclined edgeportions 31a and 31b may extend vertically as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and4 adjacent the slot 32.

The slot 32 has an enlarged central opening 32a adjacent the centralportion thereof for easier grasp of the towels or tissues supportedwithin the housing 18.

A brace 36 extends across the top of the side walls 25 and 26 and asimilar brace 37 extends across the bottom of the side walls 25 and 26as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The braces 36 and 37may be secured to the end walls 25 and 26 by any suitable means. Ifdesired, the housing 18 may also include the top wall 38 and the bottomwall 39 which extend between and are secured with the side walls 25 and26 to form the housing 18 with an open front 18a as shown in FIG. 4 ofthe drawings.

It will be noted that each end of the braces 36 and 37 projectsoutwardly beyond the end of the side walls 25 and 26 as shown at 36a and37a, respectively (FIG. 2).

The portions 36a and 37a of the braces 36 and 37 which extend beyond theside walls 25 and 26 provide a support means for the guide rods 39awhich are secured at each of their respective ends to the portions 36aand 37a, respectively, and extend vertically adjacent, but spaced from,each side wall 25 and 26.

A movable plate 40 (FIGS. 2 and extends between the side walls 25 and 26and includes reduced end portions 40a which extend through each of theslots 28 formed in the side walls 25 and 26, respectively. The reducedend portions 40a have openings (not shown) through which each of saidguides 39a extend whereby said movable plate 40 is movable verticallyalong said slot 28 and on the guides 39a toward and away from thestationary plate 31.

A member 41 is secured to the reduced end portions 40a adjacent theopenings therein and is also provided with an opening 42 coincident withthe opening in the reduced end portions 40a of movable plate 40 to serveas a stabilizer for the movable plate 40 and tends to inhibit tiltingthereof relative to the towels or tissues supported thereon or relativeto guide rods 39a as vertical movement of the plate 40 occurs along theguide rods 39a.

A back 45 is pivotally secured by any suitable means such as pins 46extending through each of the side walls 25 and 26 at the lower end orbottom of the back 45 as shown in FIG. 3 whereby access may be gained tothe interior of the housing 18 when it is positioned on the door 12.

A coil spring 46 has one end 47 connected adjacent the upper end of theback 45 by any suitable means such as by welding or by extending throughan opening formed in the back 45, and its other end is secured to themember 41. A coil spring 46 is connected on each upper edge of the back45 adjacent the side walls 25 and 26 and is in tension when the back 45is closed (the position shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings), therebytending to urge the paper towels or tissues represented by the numeral50 supported on plate 40 upwardly within the housing 18 towards theopening 32 so that they may be dispensed by grasping one of the towelsrepresented by the numeral 53 in FIG. 1 of the drawings which projectsthrough slot 32.

The towels 50 are interfolded so that when one towel is removed throughthe opening 32, another towel is lifted upwardly therethrough forgrasping by a user.

The plate 40 serves as a follower and support plate for the towels 50,tending to continuously urge them upwardly until the supply of towels isdepleted or ready for replenishing.

When this occurs, the door 12 may be opened, and the back 45 tilted tothe dotted line position represented by the numeral 55, and the coilsprings 46 will move to the position represented in dotted line by thenumeral 46a, thus lowering the plate to the position represented by thenumeral 60 in housing 18. It can be seen that this enables a new supplyof towels 50 to be inserted within the housing 18, and if there are anytowels 50 remaining within the housing 18 when the back is open toprovide an additional supply of towels, the plate 45 will serve to lowerthem away from fixed plate 31 so that the fresh supply of towels ortissues may be in serted in the housing 18 without any interference fromthe presence of towels which may already be therein. If any towels ortissues are on plate 31, then the top one may be infolded with the towelon the bottom of the fresh supply to provide continuity.

If desired, the side walls 25 and 26 as well as the upper and lowerwalls 38 and 39 may be integrally connected together or stamped out of asuitable piece of material and provided with flanges 61 along the frontedge which are provided with openings 62 therein for receiving screws orthe like toposition the housing 18 adjacent the opening 21 within thedoor 12. If desired, suitable trim as represented by the numeral 63 inFIG. 1 may be provided around the opening 21 for decorative purposes.

The surface 19 of the door 12 covers the open front 18a of housing 18when the housing 18 is positioned on the door 12, thus completelyenclosing the towels or tissues to protect them.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that the plate 40 tendsto urge the towels carried and supported thereby upwardly towards theslot 32 in the plate 31 until the supply of towels is depleted or almostdepleted.

Periodically, a fresh supply of towels may be inserted in the housing bypivoting the door 45 rearwardly as illustrated in FIG. 3 to the dottedline position represented by the numeral which lowers the plate 40 andthereby eliminates any urging force on any remaining towels within thehousing 18.

Preferably an additional plate 65 may be provided within the housing 18between the side walls 25 and 26 and serves as a guide for a users handto guide it downwardly to become engaged with the upwardly projectingtowel represented by the numeral 53. It can be seen that with thisarrangement, the top and bottom plates 38 and 39 may be eliminated ifdesired and the plate 65 along with the back 45 and end walls 25 and 26and door surface 19 will serve as an enclosure for the towels to protectthem.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention areillustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size,shape, and materials as well as the details of the illustratedconstruction.

What is claimed is:

1. A cabinet arrangement for dispensing paper towels including:

(a) a dor pivotally mounted on the cabinet to provide access to theinterior of the cabinet;

(b) a housing for storing and dispensing paper towels which isconstructed and arranged for mounting on said door within the cabinet;

(c) said door having an opening for access to the interior of saidhousing and paper towels therein;

(d) said housing including side walls which extend rearwardly into thecabinet when said housing is mounted on said door with each of said sidewalls being in a plane perpendicular to said door;

(c) said side walls being spaced and each having a slot extending fromadjacent the lower end thereof and terminating at a position spaced fromthe upper end of said side walls;

(f) a nonmovable plate extending between the side Walls within saidhousing, said plate having a slot therein which extends substantiallythe length of the plate;

(g) said plate being secured between said side walls so that the slottherein is substantially at the termination of the slots in said sidewalls;

(h) a brace extending across said side walls adjacent the top and bottomthereof, respectively, and each brace having a portion protruding overthe side walls at the top and bottom thereof;

(i) a guide extending adjacent each side wall of said housing andretained between said top and bottom protruding portions of each of saidbraces;

(j) a movable plate extending between said side Walls of said housingand having end portions which protrude through the slot in said sidewalls, said protruding end portions having an opening through which saidguide on each side of said housing extends whereby said movable plate ismovable vertically along said side wall slots, said movable plateserving as a support for paper towels to be displaced through the slotin said nonmovable plate;

(k) a member secured to each of said end portions of said plate andhaving an opening which coincides with the opening in said end portionsto thereby surround each side of said guides for a vertical extent toinhibit tilting of said end portions and movable plate relative to saidguides;

(l) a back for said housing which is pivotally connected with said sidewalls adjacent the bottom of said back whereby it may be opened foraccess to said housing; and

(m) a spring connected adjacent each side wall of said housing at oneend to said member and at its other end to the uppermost portion of saidback so that when said back is pivoted away from said side walls saidmovable plate is moved away from said nonmovable plate for receivingpaper towels within the space between said movable and nonmovableplates, and said springs urging said movable plate towards saidnonmovable plate when said back is closed whereby the paper towels areurged toward said nonmovable plate for dispensing through the slotthere- 2. The invention of claim 1 including an additional plate whichis arcuate and extends between said side plates from said nonmovableplate to the top of said housing as a guide for a users hand in graspinga paper towel from the slot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,160,412 5/1939 Broeren et a1.22152 2,253,742 8/1941 West et a1. 22152 2,781,151 2/1957 Campbell221-45 2,831,602 4/1958 Chaplin 221-59 3,313,583 4/1967 Turkington et a13l2-61 3O CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner US. 01. x42,

